CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that, pursuant to orders
from division headquarters, I moved my brigade, at 6.30 a.m. on the 11th instant, in the
direction of General Sumner's headquarters.
After reaching a designated point, where my column would be covered
from the enemy's fire, I halted until 3 p.m. By orders from General Howard, I moved my
column in the rear of Colonel Hall's, and crossed the river at about 4 p.m., under a heavy
fire of artillery and musketry. Taking position upon the left of the bridge and prolonging
my line of battle upon the banks of the river. I deployed skirmishers to the left and
front, and moved forward to take possession of the town simultaneously with Colonel Hall,
who had taken position on the right of the bridge.
The streets perpendicular to my line were enfiladed by squads of
sharpshooters and the enemy's batteries located upon the hill. The houses and churches
contiguous to my route were filled with sharpshooters, which rendered great caution
necessary. Much time was therefore expended, and but little progress made, before darkness
rendered further operations injudicious.
After dislodging most of the sharpshooters, and advancing as far as
Caroline street, I established my pickets and directed the regiment to sleep on their
arms.
Men and officers of the brigade deserve much credit for the gallantry
with which they discharged their several duties, and I desire to especially mention Capt.
Charles H. Banes, Company E, Seventy-second Pennsylvania Volunteers: Lieut Robert
Templeton, Company E. Seventy-first Pennsylvania Volunteers; Lieut. Michael Duffy, Company
I, Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Capt. Paul J. Hallowell, Company B, One
hundred and sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, who commanded the skirmishers, for the
judicious and successful management of their men, and the rapidity with which they
dislodged the enemy.
Twenty-one prisoners were captured, most of whom belonged to the Twenty
first Mississippi Regiment A number belonging to this and other regiments in Barksdale's
brigade were killed and wounded by our fire.
On the morning of the 12th, pursuant to orders from General Howard, I
took a position on the extreme right of the town, my brigade constituting the second line
of battle, and threw out the Seventy-first Pennsylvania Volunteers as skirmishers to the
front. During the day the command was subjected to a heavy fire of shot and shell; but, by
keeping the men well under cover, little execution was done.
On the morning of the 13th, I was ordered by General Howard to hold my
command in readiness to lead the attack upon the enemy's left, and had assigned to me
Captain Hazard's First Rhode Island Battery.
By 10 a.m. my men were in line, waiting for the signal to move forward,
and Captain Hazard ready to take his position at a designated point on my right. At this
juncture I received orders, through Lieut. Charles Howard, on the general's staff, to move
rapidly by the left flank toward the Plank road, in order to proceed to the front and
support General French's and Hancock's divisions, which were being hotly pressed by the
enemy.
At 12.20 p.m. I began to move my column, and proceeded out Hanover
street in the direction of the Plank road. No sooner had the head of my column reached
------ street than spherical case and shell were showered upon us from a battery which
completely enfiladed the street. Kirby's battery at this moment galloped up the street to
support my attack, and took position on the outer edge of the town, at a distance, from
the enemy's works of about 1,000 yards. The support of this battery highly elated the
officers and men, and they moved forward with spirit and confidence, notwithstanding the
terrible fire to which they were subjected.
At 1.10 I had deployed my column, and gave the word, "Forward,
double-quick, march--guide center."
At this moment my horse was shot in the right shoulder, and had to be
abandoned. As quickly as possible, after dismounting, I threw myself in front of the line,
and called upon the brigade to come on, which they instantly did, when, from behind a
stone wall at the base of the steep declivity; from rifle-pits on the face of the hill;
from two batteries on either side of a large brick house at the top of a hill; from
traverses on the right and left flanks of my line, and from a line of infantry drawn up on
top of the hill, a most terrific fire was opened upon us. To my amazement, the two lines
which I was told to support I found to have been almost entirely annihilated. I instantly
ordered my men to halt and lie close to the ground. I dispatched Lieut. Eneas Dougherty,
my aide-de-camp, to communicate to General Howard the immense strength of the works which
I was ordered to take, and the impossibility of my being successful without more artillery
and infantry. Just after the departure of my aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Stinson, of General
Howard's staff, brought me orders to hold the position I then had, and re-enforcements
would speedily be sent forward. I immediately directed Lieut. Robert S. Seabury, on my
staff, to deploy three companies as skirmishers in the houses to my right and front, which
enfiladed the stone wall and some of the rifle-pits on the face of the hill, which he did
in gallant style. This disposition of my men materially checked the enemy's fire, but
gradually the fire of his artillery and infantry began to converge upon the position held
by my brigade.
About 3 p.m. a heavy column was sent to advance upon the railroad to my
left, and, having deployed, marched gallantly toward the enemy's lines. I directed my men
to rise and hold themselves in readiness to advance simultaneously with the line upon my
left. But scarcely had we begun to move when this new line staggered, reeled, and fell
back in confusion under the awful fire which was poured in upon it. Once it rallied, and
moved again to the front, dismayed but not defeated. Again it gave way and tell back
toward the town. I directed my men again to lie down, which they did, and my line remained
unbroken.
At this juncture Captain Hazard's First Rhode Island Battery galloped
to the front, came into battery about 150 yards in my rear, and opened an effective fire
upon the enemy. Immediately after him came a column of infantry much stronger than the
first, and advanced in line of battle, with its right considerably overlapping my left.
Now the decisive hour had come; the enemy had relieved the regiments posted behind the
stone wall and the men in the rifle-pits, and an additional battery had been brought to
bear upon this position. His troops were being rapidly massed upon the top of the hill,
and a more terrific fire than any before was opened upon our lines. Unfortunately that
portion of the advancing line which overlapped my left began to fire confusedly over and
at my men, still in a recumbent position. Under these circumstances it was impossible for
me to get my men upon their feet as quickly as I desired, and before I was able to silence
the fire in my rear, this line broke and fell back. Twice it was reformed by the
per-serial exertions of two general officers, whom I afterward learned to be Generals
Hooker and Humphreys. Each time it was reformed it advanced a little beyond where the
other advance had been made, but each time the line was broken, and finally fell back to
the town. Captain Hazard's battery, which had done good service in enabling me to hold my
position, had suffered severely in men and horses, and retired also to the town.
I still maintained my position, and continued a fire upon the enemy
until night closed in, and both sides rested on their arms. I threw out my pickets to the
front on a line in advance of any point to which troops had approached during the day. I
remained with my brigade upon the ground until relieved by a brigade of regulars, under
command of Colonel Buchanan.
The Seventy-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Markoe
commanding, did not take part in the engagement, having been detailed on most important
picket duty, which, I have reason to believe, was performed with the ability which has
always distinguished this regiment.
I regret to say that the One hundred and twenty-seventh Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers, which had been temporarily attached to my brigade, fell back when
the lines to my left were broken; and as Colonel Jennings, its commander, whom I
understand was wounded, has made me no report, I can say nothing of their conduct, except
that which came under my personal observation--that the officers and men acted well until
the period' of their retiring.
On Sunday, the 14th, I detailed the Seventy-first and One hundred and
twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers on picket duty, agreeably to orders.
On Monday, the 15th, pursuant to orders, I moved my brigade and took
position on the right of Willcox's corps, to support it in the contemplated attack on the
left. On that night, at about 8 o'clock, I was ordered to recross the river, which I did,
and returned to our former camp ground.
I refer you to the reports of the regimental commanders for a list of
their officers who distinguished themselves, and will close my report by expressing my
obligations to Colonels Baxter and Morehead and Lieutenant-Colonel O'Kane for their
valuable assistance; to their field and staff officers and their line officers for the
promptness with which all my orders were obeyed, and to my assistant adjutant-general,
Lieutenant Ferdinand M. Pleis, and to my two aides-de-camp, Lieut. Eneas Dougherty and
Robert S. Seabury, for their intelligent and prompt conveyance to different points of such
orders as were issued.
I desire also to speak of the conduct of this veteran brigade, which
has borne a distinguished part in nine general engagements. It is entitled to, and I trust
will receive, that consideration which its long service and uniform good conduct merits.
Permit me to speak in the highest terms of the First Rhode Island
Battery, and to thank Captain Hazard, his officers, and men for their timely, bold, and
efficient services in my support.
I desire to return my thanks to Lieutenants Stinson and Atwood, on the
general's staff, for their intelligent conveyance to me of General Howard's orders under
the most trying and perilous circumstances.
In conclusion, permit me to express thankfulness to God for the
comparatively small loss of men and officers which I suffered.
The loss in the brigade was 27 killed, 209 wounded, and 29 missing.
Total, 265.